breednet.com.au

NZB Airfreight Makes New Plymouth a Stepping Stone to the Jericho

Media Release - Thursday September 14

Warrnambool’s Jericho Cup (4600m) has quickly become a hugely popular target every December for some of the toughest Australasian-bred stayers, and NZB Airfreight is once again giving Kiwi trainers two golden tickets into the A$300,000 feature this December.

Saturday’s $40,000 NZB Airfreight Road to the Jericho (3210m) at New Plymouth is the first of two qualifying races to be staged in New Zealand this spring. The second will be the $50,000 NZB Airfreight Road to the Jericho (3000m) at Riccarton on October 28.

Bastida won the Jericho Cup last year.

The winner of each qualifying race receives a guaranteed start in the Jericho Cup. As sponsors, NZB Airfreight will offer a $5,000 equine airfreight credit for the winner of each qualifying race, should they decide to travel across the Tasman and contest the Jericho Cup.

Inaugurated in 2018, the A$300,000 Jericho Cup is open to Australian and New Zealand-bred horses only, commemorating the light horse involvement in World War I and run on the fourth Sunday after the Group One Melbourne Cup (3200m). The original Jericho Cup was run in 1918 over three miles through desert sands. Its 100th anniversary was marked with the introduction of the modern Jericho Cup five years ago.

The New Zealand influence on the Jericho Cup has quickly taken hold, with the first four winners all bred on this side of the Tasman – High Mode (NZ) (Redwood), Ablaze (NZ) (Raise the Flag), Count Zero (NZ) (Zed) and Bastida (NZ) (Pierro).

Advertisement

There has not yet been a Kiwi-trained winner, with COVID-19 preventing New Zealand involvement in both 2020 and 2021. But Kevin Myers went close last year with Botti (NZ) (Jakkalberry), who was runner-up behind Bastida.

Saturday’s Jericho qualifier at New Plymouth has attracted a full field of 20, including the Myers-trained Mondorani (NZ) (Burgundy), who has won five races and more than $265,000 in stakes. His biggest win came in the Group Three New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton in November of 2021.

The NZB Airfreight Road to the Jericho will be run as Race 7 at New Plymouth on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 4.37pm.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Melbourne Cup Next - Al Riffa Wins G1 Irish St Leger for Australian Bloodstock
Currently standing at Coolmore Australia, Wootton Bassett (GB) is a stallion that can do a lot of things and quite possibly sire a Melbourne Cup winner with the Australian Bloodstock owned stallion Al Riffa now favourite for the race after scoring a dominant victory in the Group I Irish St Leger at The Curragh overnight.
Starspangled G1 2YO and Nearly a G1 Double
Australian bred  stallion Starspangledbanner has a very strong crop of 2YO’s running in the Northern Hemisphere this year and they showed their worth in Ireland overnight at The Curragh with his filly Precise winning the Group I Moyglare Stud Stakes (7f) and his colt Gstaad beaten a head in the Group I National Stakes (7f).
Autumn Glow Leads Inglis Graduate Weekend Charge
The Autumn Glow phenomenon continued on its merry way at Rosehill today as the freakish mare made it six wins from six starts with a brilliant performance in the G2 Theo Marks Stakes.
Thoroughbred Industry Careers to Suspend Operations - Legacy to Continue
Thoroughbred Industry Careers (TIC), the not-for-profit organisation founded in 2018 by Lindy Maurice in conjunction with leading racing and breeding enterprises to address workforce shortages in the Australian thoroughbred industry, today announced that it will suspend its operations.
Thoroughbred Innovation Advisory Board (TIAB) Launches
The newly formed Thoroughbred Innovation Advisory Board (TIAB) has officially launched, bringing together a cross-section of industry leaders with deep, hands-on experience in technology and innovation across the thoroughbred ecosystem.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 13
Here is the full list of 104 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
1.7million Filly a New SW for St Mark’s Basilica
The top lot at the 2024 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale was a blueblood St Mark’s Basilica filly from blue hen Prudenzia that sold for €1.7million to MV Magnier and she became the latest stakes-winner for her sire when romping to an impressive win in the Listed Ingabelle Stakes (7f) at Leopardstown overnight.
Wootton Bassett Colt wins G2 Champagne
Wootton Bassett colt Puerto Rico picked a nice race in which to break his maiden landing the Group II Champagne Stakes (7f) at Doncaster overnight.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 15
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Mr Brightside Joins Exclusive Karaka Graduate Club
Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) joined an exclusive club of Karaka graduates with 10 or more Group One wins when he triumphed in the A$750,000 Crown Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.